Iran has announced Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, according to reports from Iranian state media.
The decision was confirmed on Sunday by the Assembly of Experts, the constitutional body responsible for choosing the nation’s highest authority. The council said Mojtaba Khamenei was selected after what it described as a decisive vote.
In a statement released through state media outlets, the clerical body urged citizens to support the new leader and maintain unity across the country. It specifically called on intellectuals, academics, and religious scholars to stand behind the leadership and help preserve national stability.
The leadership transition follows the death of Ali Khamenei, who had ruled as Iran’s supreme leader since 1989. Reports indicate he was killed on February 28 during a joint military operation carried out by the United States and Israel targeting leadership facilities in Tehran amid escalating regional tensions.
His death sparked widespread speculation about who would succeed him. Mojtaba Khamenei had long been considered a leading contender, though his potential appointment raised concerns among some political and religious figures in Iran about the possibility of leadership becoming hereditary.
Mojtaba, a mid-ranking cleric with strong connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is believed to have wielded considerable influence behind the scenes within Iran’s political structure for years.
Before the announcement, Donald Trump had publicly criticised the possibility of Mojtaba assuming power, reportedly describing him as lacking the stature required for the role and arguing he should not influence Iran’s leadership succession.
Under Iran’s constitution, the supreme leader holds the highest authority in the country, overseeing major state institutions including the military, judiciary, and overall national policy.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment represents one of the most significant political changes in Iran in decades and comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region following the death of his father.
